Rotary drilling rig



Sept. 9, 1952 J. a. PICARD 2,610,026

ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed April 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [IUUUUUEIU[JEIEIEIUUUU UUEIUEIUEIU IN V EN TOR.

flr TOR/YEKS Sept. 9, 1952 J. B. PICARD 2,610,026

ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed April 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN.5 P/CHFZZ? Sept. 9, 1952 J. B. PICARD 2,610,026

ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed April 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet s Ill- IN VENTOR. J/m/ .5 l /CflFfD Sept. 9, 1952 J. B. PICARD ROTARY DRILLING RIGFiled April 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JH/v B P/cn PD BY 6W6Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i i i V 2,610,026 VROTARY DRILLING RIG John B. Picard, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to TheNational Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication April 12, 1949, Serial No. 86,875

This invention relates to drilling apparatus of the type-employed inconnection with the drilling of oil, gas, water and other wells, and isparticularly directed toimprovements in the power plant and drawworksportions of such rotary drill rigs.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a heavy duty, highcapacity rotary drilling rig incorporating a plurality of prime moverunits, which rig is unusually flexible in its operation so that thepower of the prime mover units may be divided between the pumps androtary machine or may be compounded to drive the drawworks or anyone ofthe pumps.

Another object is to provide a multiple speed air controlled changespeed transmission of novel design driven by one of the prime moverunits and positioned on the same skid frame there with, the transmissionbeing adapted to drive a drawworks.

Another object is to provide a plurality of prime mover units mounted onseparate skid frames and positioned in side-by-side relationship, eachof the prime mover units having a change speed transmission associatedtherewith and arranged to drive a driven mechanism, together with powercompounding means whereby the combined power of any combination of primemover units may be delivered to any one of the driven mechanisms.

Another object is to provide a rotary drilling rig having a drawworksprovided with a divided jackshaft, one jackshaft section being arrangedto drive the spooling drum of the drawworks and the'other jackshaftsection being arranged to drive the rotary machine, the latter jackshaftsectionalso being adapted to drive a feed-off drilling control for thespooling drum by way of a speed reduction unit Other and more detailedobjects and tages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure'l is a plan View showing a preferre embodiment of my invention indiagrammatic form.

Figure 2-is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly broken away,illustrating the preferred drawworks construction embodying features ofmy invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing the drawworksunit.

Figure 4 is asectional elevation taken substantially on the finest-4 asviewed infFigure12.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view showing details of construction of thechange speed transmission on the No. 3 prime mover frame.

advan- 9 Claims. (Cl. 254-487) Figure 6 is a sectional plan view showingdetails of construction of the change speed transmission mounted on theNo. l prime mover frame.

Referring to the drawings, the rotary drilling rig embodying myinvention and shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 includes a shaft drivenrotary machine 10, a drawworks unit generally designated l I, a powerplant generally designated 12 and a pair of power driven slush pumps l3and l4.

The draw-works unit ll includes a pair of skid frames l5 and itconnected together along the juncture line [1. These skid framestogether with the supporting structure carried thereon is hereinafterreferred to as the drawworks frame 48. A spooling d rum It provided withthe-usual brake rims 20 is fixed on a drum shaft 21-. This drum shaft issupported on axially spaced bearings 22. These bearings, as well asother bearings hereinafter described, are supported by elements of theframe l8 omitted in Figure 2 for purposes of clarity of illustration.

A low speed drive sprocket 23 is rotatably mounted onthe drum shaft 21and is adapted to be connected in driving relationship with the drumshaft 2| by means of the air operated friction clutch 24. The high speeddrive sprocket 25 is fixedon the drum shaft 2| and is provided with jaws26 for connection with mating jaws 21 on the clutch 28. The clutch 2-8is splined to the brake shaft 29 for operating the auxiliary brake 30. Aline shaft 3| rotatably supported in axially spaced bearings 32 carriedby the frame It, is provided with a high speed drive sprocket 33 rotatiis arranged to drive the sprocket 23 through the drive chain 31.

A jackshaft assembly generally designated 38 includes a pair of alignedjackshaft sections 39 and. 40 rotatably supported in axially spacedbearings .41 and 42. These hearings are carried by thedrawworks frameIS. A driving sprocket 43, rota-tably mountedlon the jackshaft section39, is connected by a chain 44 to drive the sprocket 45 fixed to theline shaft 3 l Means are provided for driving the jac'kshaft section 39and asshown on the drawings, this means includes a power receivingsprocket 4.6 driven by a chain 41. The sprocket 46 is fixed to. a sleeve48 rotatably mounted on the jackshaft section 39. An axially shiftableclutch 419 is provided with splined teeth 58 on one end and a gear 5| onthe other end. The member 49 may be shifted to engage the splined teeth58 with similar splined teeth (not shown) within the sleeve 48, therebyconnecting the sleeve 48 in driving relationship with the sleeve 52. Thesleeve 52 is rotatably mounted on the jackshaft section 39.

A splined clutch 53 may be shifted axially of the sleeve 52 to connectits inner splined teeth (not shown) with the splined ring 54 fixed onthe sprocket 43. Thus, the sprocket may be driven in a forward directionand the splined clutch 53 engages the splined ring 54 when the splinedclutch 49- engages the sleeve 48.

A reverse drive is provided for rotating the J'ackshaft section 39 in areverse direction when required. This reverse drive includes a doublesprocket 55 fixed on the sleeve 48 and connected by chain to drive thesprocket 56 fixed on the countershaft sleeve 51. The countershaft sleeve51 is mounted on suitable bearings (not shown) and is provided with adriving gear 58 fixed thereon. The countershaft sleeve 5'! is constantlyrotated with the power receiving sprocket 46, but it merely idles undernormal driving conditions. When a reverse drive is required the clutch49 is moved axially to place the gears 5I and 58 into mesh, therebydisengaging the splined teeth 58. The sleeve 52 is then driven in areverse direction and upon closing of the splined clutch 53 the sprocket43 and jackshaft section 39 are rotated in a reverse direction.

An air operated friction clutch assembly generally designated '59 isprovided for connecting the adjacent ends of the jackshaft sections 39and 48. This clutch assembly 59 includes a ring 68 fixedto the jackshaftsection 39 and a housing 6| fixed to the jackshaft section 48. Aninflatable rubber-like ring 62 on the housing 6I carries friction shoes83 adapted to contact the periphery of the drum 64 formed on the ring68. From this description it will be understood that inflation of theannular ring 62 serves to efiect a driving engagement whereby thejackshaft assembly 48 is driven from the jackshaft section 39. When theinflatable ring 62 is deflated the shoes 63'move out of engagement withthe drum 64, with the result that the driving connection is interrupted.An inertia brake assembly 65 may be provided for holding the jackshaftsection 48 from rotation when desired.

Means are provided on the jackshaft section 48 for driving the rotarymachine I8 at a plurality of speeds. As shown on the drawings, thismeans includes a pair of driving sprockets 66 and 61, which are fixed onthe jackshaft assembly 40. A countershaft 68 rotatably supported by theaxially spaced bearings 69 carries a pair of sprockets 18 and IIconnected'by chains I2 and 13 to be driven from sprockets 66 and 6!respectively. The driven sprockets I8 and II are rotatably mounted onthe countershaft 68 and either may be connected in driving relationshipwith the countershaft 68 by means of the axially shiftpower transmissionshaft 82. This latter shaft 82 extends under a guard 83 and is connectedto rotate the drive shaft of the rotary machine I8.

A cat shaft 84 is rotatably mounted in axially spaced bearings 85carried on the drawworks frame I8. This cat shaft may be provided with acat head assembly 86 on each end thereof as shown in Figure 1. The catshaft is provided with a driven sprocket 81 fixed thereon arranged to bedriven from driving sprocket 88 rotatably mounted on the line shaft "3|.A chain 89 connects the sprockets 81 and 88. A sprocket I fixed on thejackshaft section 39 drives the sprocket 8 which is fixed to thesprocket 88.

In conventional drilling rigs the cable which is wound on the spoolingdrum I9 is payed out gradually in order to feed the drill string and bitinto the formation. This feed-01f operation is accomplishedconventionally by relaxing the brake bands (not shown) which are trainedover the brake rims 28. The feed-off accomplished by relaxation of thebrake bands is irregular and intermittent, and it is known that it doesnot act to maintain constant feeding pressure on the drill bit.

In accordance with a feature of my invention I provide feed-off controlmeans which are controlled by the driller but which are independent ofthe feed available by relaxing the brakes. In accordance with myinvention I provide a speed reduction unit 98 which may include a singleor double worm gear reduction. The slow speed shaft 9| of this unit 98is connected by means of sprocket 92 and chain 93 to the sprocket 94which is rotatably mounted on one end of the line shaft 3I. A jaw clutch95 is provided for releasably connecting the sprocket 94 in directdriving relationship with the line shaft 3|. The high speed shaft 96 onthe unit 98 is connected by coupling 98 to a hydraulic motor 99. Ahydraulic pump I88 is connected by coupling I8I in direct drivingrelationship with the jackshaft section 48. Hydraulic lines I82 and I83connect the hydraulic motor 99 with the hydraulic pump" I88 so that thepump may drive the motor. A suitable control device I84 of conventionaltype is operatively positioned in the lines I82 and I83 or associatedwith the pump I88 for regulating the volume of flow of hydraulic fluidbetween the pump I88 and motor 99.

From this description it will be understood that the rotating jackshaftsection 48 may drive the pump I88 which in turn drives the hydraulicmotor 99. The motor 99 drives the shaft 96 at a relatively high speed,and the output shaft 9| turns at a very much slower speed. This slowspeed drive is then communicated via sprockets 92, 94, 36 and 23 toturnthe spooling drum I9 very slowly in a direction to pay off or tounspool the cable for feeding the drill string. The control I94 may haveremote actuating mechanism positioned at the drillers control panel I85if desired. This control I84 may be set by the driller to provide afixed rate of flow in the lines I 82 and I83 so that regardless of thespeed of the jackshaft section 48 the pump 99 turns the shaft 96 at arate to produce the desired rate of feedoff rotation for the spoolingdrum I9.

The provisions for supplying air to each of the air operated frictionclutches and for supplying cooling water'for the. brake rims 28 of thedrum I9 are largely omitted from the drawings for purposes of clarity ofillustration. Similarly the lubricating connections, fittings, piping,etc., which convey lubricants'to the various bearings of the device arealso omitted from the drawings.

The power plant I2 preferably includes a plurality of prime mover unitsIIO, III and II2, each mounted on an individual skid frame H3, H4 andH5, arranged in side-by-side relationship. Each of the prime mover unitsI I0 may comprise a single unit or multiple unit engine and each maydeliver its power through a suitable hydraulic coupling I I6. Thiscoupling is preferably of the type wherein the quantity of fluid in theworking circuit may be varied under the control of the driller. Each ofthe hydraulic coupling H6 is arranged to drive a power output shaft,which is aligned with the prime mover unit on that particular skidframe. I I

. The power output shaft II1, which is driven by theprime mover unit II0, forms one shaft in a change speed transmission assembly generallydesignated II8. This change speedtransmission assembly is entirelymounted and carried on the skid frame II3, which also supports the primemover unit III'I. As shown clearly in Figure 6, the shaft H1 isrotatably supported on axially spaced bearings H9 and is provided withfour sprockets I20, I2I, I22 and I23, each of which is fixed to theshaft II1. Driven sprockets I24, I25 and I26 are each rotatably mountedon the countershaft I21 of the transmission H8 and these sprockets areconnected by chains I28 to the driving sprockets I2 I, I22 and I23respectively.

A power take-off sprocket I29 is fixed on the countershaft I21. Clutchmeans are provided for releasably engaging any one of the drivensprockets I24, I25 and I26 to the countershaft I21 as desired. As shownin the drawings, air operated friction clutches I30, I3I and I32 areemployed for accomplishing this purpose. Each of these clutches employsa pair of annular inflatable rings I33, which cause friction shoes I34to engage the surface of a drum I35. The clutch I30 is effective toconnect the sprocket 124-130 the shaft I21. The clutch I3I acts toconnect thesprocket I25 to the shaft I21 and the clutch I32 connects thesprocket I26 to the shaft I21. In each of these clutches inflation ofthe annularring or sack I33 moves friction shoes I34 radially inwardlyinto driving contact with the inner ring or drum I35.

Clutches I3I and I30 may be provided with a common driving member and asshown in the drawings, this means includes a central hub I36 shrunk onthe shaft I21 and having an annular disk I31 fixed thereto. The diskcarries shell'assemblies I38 and I39, which rotate with the shaft I 21.In effect the air operated clutches I30 and I3I are placed back-to-backand provided with a common driving member. Air for operating theclutches I30, I3I and I32 is conveyed through passageways in the shaft(not shown) and connected by conventional piping systems to the annularrings I33. As shown, each of the individual air clutches employs a pairof inflatable rings I33. This increases the capacity of the clutch overthat provided by a single inflatable ring without increasing thediameter. It will be understood that a single inflatable ring may beemployed in each case if desired or, likewise, more than two inflatablerings may be incorporated into each clutch as-- sembly for increasingthe capacity, if necessary. I

An air compressor I49 may be mounted on a suitable air receiver MI andarranged to be driven frorn a V-belt assembly I42 driven by a pulley I43fixed on the shaft Ill.

The driven shaft I44, which is carried on the skid frame H4 and driven.by the prime mover unit III, carries a pair of sprockets I45 and I46.The sprocket I45 is fixed to the shaft I44 while the sprocket I46 isrotatable thereon and is arranged to be connected in driving relationtherewith by means of an axially shiftable clutch I41. A chain I48connects the sprockets I20 and I46. A change speed transmission assemblygenerally designated I49 is mounted on the skid frame H4 and is whollycarried thereby. The shaft I 44 forms the driving shaft of this changespeed transmission and the countershaft I50 forms the driven shaftthereof. Axially spaced bearings I 5| support the shaft I44. On theoverhanging end of the shaft I44 a driving sprocket I52 is mounted. Anair operated friction clutch I53 is provided for connecting the sprocketI52 in driving relationship with the shaft I44. I

The driving sprocket I54 is fixed on the shaft I44 and is arranged todrive sprocket I55 through the chain I56. The sprocket I55 is rotatablymounted on the countershaft I50 and is arranged to be connected indriving relation therewith by means of the air operated friction clutchI56d, A chain I51 connects the driving sprocketl52 to the drivensprocket I51a, which is fixed on the countershaft I50. A power take-01fsprocket I50 is fixed on the countershaft I50 and drives the pumpsprocket I59 by way of the chain I60. The pump I3 may be of anyconventional design.

It will be observed that the sprocket I55 and clutch I56a are outsidethe bearings I6I, which support the shaft I50. The clutch I53 issimilarly 'mounted on an overhanging end of its shaft I44. Accordingly,the clutches I53 and I56a are easily, available for disassembly in orderto replace the friction elements when worn.

A change speed transmission generally designated I62 is mounted on theskid frame I I5 and is adapted to be driven by the prime mover'unit .II2 by way of the hydraulic coupling II6. This transmission assembly I62may be substantially the same as the transmission assembly I49 and mayinclude a low speed drive through aligned sprockets I63 and I64 and ahigh speed drive through aligned sprockets I65 and I66. Sprockets I63and I66 are fixed to the shafts I61 and I68 respectively, whilesprockets I54 and I65 are rotatably mounted on their respective shaftsand are arranged to be connected in driving relation therewith by meansof air operated friction clutches I69 and I10 respectively. It will beobserved that the clutches I and I19 are mounted on the overhanging endsof the shafts I68 and I61. A power take-off sprocket In is fixed on thecountershaft I68 and is adapted to drive the pump sprocket I12 via chainI13.

The two-speed pump transmission assemblies I49 and I62 provide a verycompact self-contained assembly which affords two speeds for each of thepumps I3 and I 4. These change speed transmissions are wholly supportedon their respective skid frames I4 and H5, and are transportable withthe prime mover unit a a complete subassembly. In a similar way thechange speed transmission II8 mounted on the subframe H3 istransportable as a unit with th prime mover unit I I0.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I donot wish to be .limited to the details herein set forth, but myinvention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having aspooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections including areleasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, a dividedjack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sections rotatablymounted in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jackshaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections wherebyone of the jack shaft sections may drive the line shaft, means wherebysaid jack shaft section may be driven from a source of power, meanswhereby the second jack shaft section may drive a driven mechanism, aspeed reduction unit, releasable means for connecting said unit to theline shaft, and means for driving the speed reduction unit from thesecond jack shaft section.

2. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having aspooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections including areleasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, the clutchbeing positioned coaxially of the drum, second power transmissionconnections including a clutch whereby the line shaft may drive thedrum, the latter said clutch being positioned coaxially of the lineshaft, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaftsections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, a clutch operativelyconnecting the jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmissionconnections whereby one of the jack shaft sections may drive the lineshaft, means whereby said jack shaft section may be driven from a sourceof power, means whereby the second jack shaft section may drive a drivenmechanism, a speed reduction unit, releasable means for connecting saidunit to the line shaft, and means for driving the speed reduction unitfrom the second jack shaft section. 3. In a rotary drilling rig, thecombination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, a line shaft, powertransmission connections including a releasable clutch whereby the lineshaft may drive the drum, the clutch being positioned coaxially of thedrum, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaftsections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, a clutch operativelyconnecting the jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmissionconnections whereby one of the jack shaft sections may drive the lineshaft, means whereby said jack shaft section may be driven from a sourceof power, means whereby the second jack shaft section may drive a drivenmechanism, a worm gear speed reduction unit having a high speed shaftand a low speed shaft, releasable mean for connecting the low speedshaft of said unit to the line shaft, and variable speed drive means fordriving the high speed shaft of the speed reduction unit from the secondjack shaft section.

4. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having aspooling drum, 2, line shaft, power transmission connections including areleasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, the clutchbeing positioned coaxially of the drum, a divided jack shaft assemblyincluding a pair of jack shaft sections rotatably mounted in axialalignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jack shaft sections forrotation as a unit, transmission connections whereby one of the jackshaft sections may drive the line shaft, means whereby said jack shaftsection may be driven from a source of power, a speed reduction unithaving a high speed shaft and a low speed shaft, releasable means forconnecting the low speed shaft of said unit to the lineshaft, means forconnecting the high speed shaft of the speed reduction unit to thesecond jack shaft section, said means including a hydraulic pump drivenby the second jack shaft section andconnected to drive a hydraulic motorconnected to the speed reduction unit.

5,-In a'rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having aspooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections including areleasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, the clutchbeing positioned coaxially of the drum, second power transmissionconnections including a clutch whereby the line haft may drive the drum,the latter said clutch being positioned coaxially of the line shaft, adivided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sectionsrotatably mounted'in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connectingthe jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connectionsincluding a clutch positioned coaxially of the line shaft whereby one ofthe jack shaft sections may drive the line shaft, means whereby saidjack shaft section may be driven from a source of power, means wherebythe second jack shaft section may drive a driven mechanism, a speedreduction unit, releasable means for connecting said unit to the lineshaft, and 'means for driving the speed reduction unit from'the secondjack shaft section.

6. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having aspooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections including areleasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, a dividedjack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sections rotatablymounted in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jackshaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections wherebyone of the jack shaft sections may drive the line shaft, means wherebysaid jack shaft section may be driven in either forward orreversedirection from a unidirectional source of power, a speed reduction unit,releasable means for connecting the low speed end of said unit to theline shaft, and a hydraulic transmission connecting the high speed endof the speed reduction unit to the second jack shaft section, saidtransmission including means for varying the relative speeds of thesecond jack shaft section and the speed reduction unit.

7. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having aspooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections whereby theline shaft may drive the drum, a divided jackshaft assembly including apair of jackshaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, aclutch operatively connecting the jaokshaft sections for rotation as aunit, transmission connections whereby the first of the jackshaftsections may drive the lineshaft, means whereby the second jackshaftsection may drive a driven mechanism, a power-receiving sprocketrotatably mounted on the first jackshaft section, a reverse shaft, meansfor driving the reverse shaft from the power-receiving sprocket, meansincluding releasable clutch means for driving the first jackshaftsection in a reverse direction from the reverse shaft, and releasablemeans for connecting the power receiving sprocket in direct drivingrelation with the first jackshaft section.

8. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having aspooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections whereby theline shaft may drive the drum, a divided jackshaft assembly including apair of jackshaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, aclutch operatively connecting the jackshaft sections for rotation as aunit, transmission connections whereby the first of the jackshaftsectionsmay drive the lineshaft, means whereby the second jackshaftsection may drive a driven mechanism, a power-receiving sprocketrotatably mounted on the first jackshaft section, a reverse shaft havinga second sprocket and driving gear mounted for rotation as a unit, athird sprocket mounted for rotation with the power-receiving sprocketand arranged to drive the second sprocket, a driven gear rotatablymounted on the first jackshaft section and axially slidable into meshwith the driving gear, and selective clutch means for driving the firstjackshaft section ina forward direction from said power-receivingsprocket and in a reverse direction through said gears.

'9. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having aspooling drum, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jackshaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment and in end-to-endrelationship, a clutch operatively connecting the adjacent ends of saidjack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, power transmissionconnections whereby the first of the jack shaft sections may beoperatively connected to drive the drum, means whereby the second jackshaft section may drive a driven mechanism, a feed control device forcontrolling turning movement of the drum during drilling, said feedcontrol device including a speed reduction unit,

means whereby one of said jack shaft sections REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,171,994 Riise Sept. 5, 19392,246,478 Guier June 17, 1941 2,258,785 Morgan .1 Oct. 14, 19412,342,507 Anderson Feb. 22, 1944 2,344,681 Deschner Mar. 21, 19442,354,235 Walton July 25, 1944

